A family-owned daily newspaper serving Riverton, Lander and Fremont County, Wyoming since 1949

Shoshone Business Council election process halted

Oct 7, 2012 - From staff reports

Eastern Shoshone Tribe election judge and co-chairwoman Helen Grace Ward has issued a statement to all tribe members older than 18.

According to Ward, a petition for a Special General Council was brought to the Eastern Shoshone Tribal Election Office at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 2.

Ward said the petition calls for discussion and action regarding Ivan Posey and Orville St. Clair, who filed an injunction with the tribal court ruling on the Shoshone Business Council election process and the Office of the Attorney General's representation in this matter.

An injunction is a writ or order from a court prohibiting a group from carrying out a given action, or ordering a given action to be done.

The petitioner has obtained 142 signatures for a Special General Council, but Ward said at this point the Shoshone Business Council members are the elected officials who possess the authority to schedule the Special General Council.

"The Shoshone Tribe needs to hold a meeting as soon as possible," Ward said. "As an election judge it is my sovereign duty to inform all Eastern Shoshone tribal members 18 years and over of the injunction that has put a halt to the election process, and I am informing the Eastern Shoshone tribal members' voting population of the Special General Council."

The injunction has stopped the 2012 Eastern Shoshone election process, according to Ward, who said election judges have requested that the injunction be lifted so the tribe can proceed with its election.

Ward said the Shoshone Business Council has been notified of the petition for a special general council, and the election judges are waiting for the Shoshone Business Council to notify the Eastern Shoshone Tribe and its election judges of the General Council date and time.

"At this time the pertinent issues in regards to the case cannot be revealed since the Eastern Shoshone Tribes election process is in litigation," Ward said. "The Eastern Shoshone Tribes General Council is the only body to hear the matter."

She said the Eastern Shoshone Tribe and the judges are awaiting the Shoshone Business Council's acknowledgement of the petition.

"I would like to make it clear to the Shoshone Tribe that this is now public information since the two individuals, Orville St. Clair and Ivan Posey, went to the tribal courts requesting an injunction for the election of the Eastern Shoshone Business Council on Sept. 5, 2012," Ward said, adding that the hearing that took place Sept. 11, also was public.

"The issue that has been introduced into the ... tribal courts can be resolved in General Council," Ward said.